The SBNation 2019 Mock Draft continues with two selections today, one via trade.

The Draft so Far

  1. NHL Mock Draft 2019: New Jersey Devils Select Jack Hughes with No. 1 draft pick - All About The Jersey
  2. NHL Mock Draft 2019: New York Rangers Select Kaapo Kakko with No. 2 Pick - Blueshirt Banter
  3. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Chicago Blackhawks select Alex Turcotte with No. 3 pick - Second City Hockey
  4. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Colorado Avalanche select Kirby Dach with the No. 4 pick - Mile High Hockey
  5. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Los Angeles Kings select Dylan Cozens with No. 5 pick - Jewels From The Crown
  6. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Detroit Red Wings select Bowen Byram with No. 6 pick - Winging It In Motown
  7. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Buffalo Sabres select Cole Caufield with the No. 7 pick - Die By The Blade
  8. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Edmonton Oilers Select Peyton Krebs With The Number 8 Pick - The Copper & Blue
  9. SB Nation NHL Mock Draft 2019: Anaheim Ducks select Trevor Zegras - Anaheim Calling
  10. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Vancouver Canucks select Matthew Boldy with the No. 10 pick - Nucks Misconduct
  11. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Philadelphia Flyers select Alex Newhook with No. 11 pick - Broad Street Hockey
  12. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Minnesota Wild select Vasili Podkolzin with the No. 12 pick - Hockey Wilderness
  13. NHL Mock Draft 2019: Florida Panthers select Philip Broberg with the No. 13 pick - Litter Box Cats

2019 NHL Draft prospect: Victor Söderström is the defender you’re looking for - Eyes On The Prize
Tuesday’s Picks

First up today, the Canadiens fans picked Thomas Harley at 15th:

NHL Mock Draft 2019: Montreal Canadiens select Thomas Harley at 15th - Eyes On The Prize
The Habs bolster their defensive depth with an offensively inclined left-handed blue-liner.

They do a good job of outlining who they didn’t pick and why, which is as interesting as their take on Harley:

While a few of us have been hoping that Podkolzin’s contract situation (he has two more years to play in the KHL) will have him fall to 15th at the actual draft, that wasn’t the case in this event.

However, even though Montreal sits in the proverbial “no man’s land” as the non-playoff team farthest from the first overall selection, there were still plenty of solid prospects projected to go in the range of the Canadiens’ slot for us to consider.

Ryan Suzuki was one option. Despite already having his brother in the prospect pool, his skill set was thought to be similar to that of other players and prospects in the system. Montreal has plenty of forwards to distribute the puck but few to finish the play off.

Before we get to pick number 16, though, there’s a trade!

2019 NHL Mock Draft: We have a trade to announce - Mile High Hockey
Too many options so we have decided to trade down in the first round.

To New York Rangers: 16th overall

To Colorado Avalanche: 20th overall + 49th overall

After trying desperately - and failing - to get up into the top-10 to grab Zegras, we have moved back from 16 to 20 and were able to pick up a mid-second round pick in the process. The trade gives us two picks in each of the first three rounds as well as four picks in the top-50 of the draft.

Stay tuned to see how we spent the 20th overall picks.

With that new pick, the Rangers fans selected this year’s mystery man:

NHL Mock Draft 2019: New York Rangers Select Arthur Kaliyev 16th Overall - Blueshirt Banter
The Rangers trade up to select the high scoring winger.

The Rangers fans know all about their choice, and they link to a more in-depth profile in their draft post, but this sums it up:

While his numbers pop out, there are flaws in Kaliyev’s game, perceived or actual, that drop him down the draft order. Adam points out that Kaliyev can be a bit lacking in the defensive end and that his skating is not his best asset.

At this point in the draft to the bitter end, every player has something wrong with his game, or is perceived to, or he wouldn’t be in this part of the draft. That’s exactly why it can make sense for a team to trade down and double their chances. Trading up is a questionable practice, and I wouldn’t have made this trade from the Rangers’ side.

What about the Leafs, though? Should the Leafs consider trading up to get into at least this part of the first round?

Should the Leafs trade up into the first round?

Yes, get a good player for sure.72
No, the late second-round pick is fine.199
Just the opposite trade down for two picks with that second rounder.95
NHL Draft